The Most Racist Thing I’ve Ever Done

There’s a belief among some educated Black (and White) people that Blacks—well, American Blacks—cannot be racist. Racism, to them, is more about power and possessing the ability to oppress than any beliefs or feelings held about other races. And, since Black Americans don’t wield enough political or financial power to oppress, we’re unable to be racist.

While I guess I see where they’re coming from, this theory is, well, bullshit. Anyone can possess any trait—positive or negative—even if that particular trait isn’t usually associated with them. We (Blacks) can be racists. Women can be misogynists. Laker fans can have integrity. Ray Lewis is a murderer, and no one seems to give a damn. The list goes on.

Anyway, I’m bringing this up because I did some racist-ass shit the other day. Super racist. Undeniably racist. Hilariously racist. So racist that it made the full transition from “racist” to “ridiculous,” causing me to even say “Damn. That was some racist-ass shit” right after it happened. And, although the story makes me laugh every time I think about it, calling it anything other than racist-ass shit would be disingenuous.

As I’m sure all of you are aware of, there are certain parts in certain cities where attempting to find food at night becomes an exercise in futility. And, by “there are certain parts in certain cities where attempting to find food at night becomes an exercise in futility” I mean “if you live in a predominately Black neighborhood, there’s a good chance that within the last year or so, a delivery boy has been robbed, shot, or stabbed within a two block radius of where you currently are.”

Restaurants located in these areas close a little earlier than those in other neighborhoods, and, most notably, you have a better chance of finding a virgin at a Delta convention than finding a place that might actually deliver food after 8pm.

A friend of mine lives in one of these areas. Admittedly, she lives in the “nice” part of the neighborhood, but lets just say that the neighborhood’s reputation precedes itself. Once, while sitting on her couch next to her while she was attempting to order a pizza, I was able to hear the person on the other end of the phone literally laugh aloud when she told them where she lives. It wasn’t a chuckle, either. This motherf*cker guffawed.

A few weeks ago, though, we had a breakthrough. We both happened to be on her porch when a small car sped to a awkward stop a few feet in front of her place. An Asian-looking man jumped out, carrying a couple pizzas and a bag of pop, walking very briskly, and dressed inappropriately (it was maybe 35 degrees and he was wearing a windbreaker, some sweats, and a hat). Basically, everything about this man—his awkward and abrupt parking, his demeanor, his attire, the way he was carrying the food, and, most importantly, his Asian-ness—screamed “delivery boy.”

Elated that we finally found a place that delivered to the neighborhood, we called out to the guy as he walked past.

Us: “Hey, where are you from?”

Him: “Huh?”

Us: “What place do you work for? We thought no one delivered to this block.”

Him: “Um, I’m not a delivery boy. I live right there. This is my food. I’m going home.”

Us: “Sorry bout that.”

Him (in his head): “F*ck you”

Him (to his Facebook page later that night): “I love the RZA, but I hate Black people”

In summary, we racially profiled the f*ck out of this guy. Admittedly, if he was White or Black and was dressed/acted the same way, we might have asked the same question. But, his Asian-ness—and us assuming that “small Asian man dressed like one of the Mario Bros” couldn’t possibly equal anything other than “delivery boy”—made our query so damn confident. Like, there was no doubt in our minds that he wasn’t delivering food. No hesitation, no nothing.

Ironically, the people being racially profiled—us for living in that area—ended up racially profiling ourselves. The circle of life and shit.

Anyway, people of VSB, I just shared the most racist thing I’ve ever done in the last year. What would be yours?

Previously

Next

Blacks can’t indulge in the practice of racism. That’s a fact. We don’t have the power in this country to do so. However, Blacks can be PREJUDICED. I think that’s where people get it mixed up. Prejudice is having preconceived, often negative, notions about people of a different race, gender, religion. ANYONE, of any color and gender and whatnot, can be prejudiced. But only people in power, can practice racism. Racism without power, isn’t racism. It’s prejudice.

nillalatte

I disagree TUK. Let me give you an example. A white student attending a HBCU. Do you not think that the black administration is in a position of power? Do you think that jerking the white student around for two weeks trying to get registered for classes could not be interpreted as racism? I’ll wait. Maybe you’re speaking more of a government type of power, but ‘power’ comes in many forms.

That Ugly Kid

That’s nowhere NEAR the same thing as an ENTIRE country systematically exerting its power. Besides, the HBCU, is still located in this country. The “power” they have, pales in comparison to people who have the power to say, raise taxes, tell women what to do with their bodies, tell those Black administrators at said HBCU to stop jerking around the white student, etc. Black administrators at a HBCU have about as much power as a manager at a popular fastfood chain. Compared to the CEO, their “power” is negligible at best.

I Am Your People

+10000000000

Rewind

Word.

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

I agree that Nilla used a bad example. But, that doesn’t negate her main point

Crystal Marie

Agreed TUK. Although it’s not really relevant, this would never happen at an HBCU anyway. HBCUs have absolutely zero history of refusing to admit people based on their race.

Brother Mouzone

+ a trilli

Brother Mouzone

for TUK’S comment

Kema

I’m with nihalette. It doest mater if its on a different scale. Racism is racism. .

That Ugly Kid

That’s the thing. The scenario she described is NOT power. At all. That white student doesn’t HAVE to go to that HBCU. Those Black administrators don’t control/influence practically every facet of his life. So if he doesn’t like it, can just move, or transfer. What she described isn’t power. Especially not power as it relates to oppressing an ENTIRE DEMOGRAPHIC.

WIP

I’m not sure how this is different than her example. From that POV, a black person doesn’t have to live in America. An oppressed black American can move. If you believe there are smaller environments where black people do have power, then there is the potential for racism.

SweetSass

There is no where in the world you can go to escape the legacy of slavery or white colonialism.

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

“There is no where in the world you can go to escape the legacy of slavery or white colonialism.”

my bedroom.

SweetSass

I don’t know why…. but I feel like you own little racist tchotkes like ceramic black face, watermelon carrying salt and pepper shakers, which you likely have on display. Hipster.

http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ

get hip to deez

T.Q. Fuego

So Champ you’re saying that you don’t fit the stereotypes of negro men in the bedroom? Is that your final answer? lol

http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ

well played and shit

The Guy Formerly Know As Hmmmm

you are right about that one.

Flair!

You can always move to Africa….if you never want to meet a white person in 10yrs,there are over 200countries and over 500 states in those countries to choose from …your american accent will even appreciate your value..Lol.

P.S:I am a pure-naija breed…lived all my life in Nigeria.

Flair!

You can always move to Africa….if you never want to meet a white person in 10yrs,there are over 50countries and over 500 states in those countries to choose from …your american accent will even appreciate your value..Lol.

P.S:I am a pure-naija breed…lived all my life in Nigeria.

LMNOP

I don’t know about all that. HBCUs are a small minority of colleges. A person could easily choose to attend another one. A person who is born in the US and only has legal status to live in the US (ie most americans) can’t really just up and move to another country. Certainly not easily. Also, where on earth could a person move to avoid racism?

WIP

If the primary basis of racism is power, wouldn’t saying that black people can’t be racist imply that there is not place on Earth black people have power? Beause if the power exists, then there is the potential for racism. I understand dark people have generally been discriminated against in many cultures, but I don’t believe there is truth to the idea that there are no smaller economies/communities/environments where white people or people of the majority couldn’t be discriminated against because of their race. That doesn’t make sense to me.

SweetSass

Power is relative.

Does Mugabe have power in Zimbabwe? Yes. A lot of it. He is a dictator.

Does he have power relative to the IMF, World Bank, United Nations? No. That country could be destroyed or invaded with the effort it takes to knock over a domino.

WIP

Is the ultimate point that racism can only occur on a global scale? A national scale? At what point does the region become too small to have the potential for racism?
The fact that Zimbabwe can be invaded is neither here nor there; the white secretary who works in the Zimbabwe government office building could still catch hell everyday because he’s the only white dude in the office right- or are you suggesting that could never happen? If it could happen, are you saying you wouldn’t call it racism because somebody could invade the Zimbabwe?

SweetSass

But racism accounts for the fact Zimbabwe is in such bad shape. It is the effect of colonialism and western meddling. The troubled infrastructure, the upheval of political parties, the low value of currency, the extracted and exploited natural resources… are all the legacy of colonialism.

SweetSass

But racism accounts for the fact Zimbabwe is in such bad shape. It is the effect of colonialism and western meddling. The troubled infrastructure, the upheval of political parties, the low value of currency, the extracted and exploited natural resources… are all the legacy of colonialism.

WIP

So because of Zimbabwe’s history, for example, it is impossible for any black Zimbabwean (?) to believe he/she is superior to a white Zimbabwean and act out on that belief in a school, workplace or other environment where blacks are literally the majority? (and even if blacks weren’t the majority) None of the definitions of racism provided explicitly exclude black people. Whether it’s the power to act, the belief, the hatred, black people have the ability to do all these things at some level. Anybody can be racist. The only difference is the number of people who can be affected by it.

LMNOP

I agree with all of this.
I would see white people being killed because of their race under the orders of their government as one of the very few instances of white people being victims of racism.

Brother Mouzone

I don’t usually agree with SASS, but she’s DEAD ON with her comments..thank you, please continue.

Rewind

Yes it does. Racism without power is prejudice. Or in short, just being a di-ck.

It’s text book definition in any pyschology or philosophy book.

Kema

I must have had a different book. Racism without power is still racism. It just doesnt affect as many people. Racism with power has a longer reach as evidenced by American history.

lyric

@ Kema.I’m very happy to read your comments on racism;even if u don’t have a single friend outside your race or hang with other people u r a fair thinker!& I loved your comment on how if we can’t refer to the dictionary I don’t know wht to do;tht was great & very funny!you’re a good girl & u know it doesn’t hurt in life to make white friends or asian friends;tht’s wht racist people don’t understand!sometimes people of different races can help u succeed in life more than your own brethren & the key is having an open mind & the fact tht u can hang if u wanted;unlike extremists.so good for u & when I see comments like this from black women like yourself it makes my heart a little happier for all of us.peace be with u

I Agree with TUK

I went to an HBCU (one of the top )and so did many of my friends. Let me just say that they give EVERYONE the run around. It doesn’t matter what color you are. I have friends that were purged from their classes because they owed less than a dollar and it took them weeks to get something so small sorted out. So I don’t think the HBCU example is applicable here.

Scipio Africanus

Lol at the screen name.

That Ugly Kid

Pretty much the best screen name of all time.

Marshal

No offense, Nilla, but apparently you haven’t met or spoken to anyone that goes to Howard University. ALL of us-Black, White, Asian, etc- get the Runaround FOR WEEKS when it comes to book, tuition payments/refund checks, and so on. There’s no Prejudice aside for People w/money get Served First and Way Better than everyone else; Hell, even somebody with a GPA above 3.7 will still get screwed if he/she doesn’t have the funds.

Can’t cosign you or Champ and I have to agree with TUK: Black People= Prejudice, not Racists. JBH

Rewind

Word, the administration building at Howard should come with a representative of any terrorist organization offering an introductory course in building bombs because THAT IS HOW ANGRY THAT STAFF WILL MAKE YOU.

Marshal

Truth.com

Rewind

Nilla….that aint even close to being a real comparison.

Racism, by textbook and historical definition means a dominate group in power completely demeans another group by any means necessary, simply for being in the minority. By any means counts for economics, violence, enviromental tampering, etc.

If you’d like examples, here are some: Native American history, Black American history, prosecution of Jewish people during WWI-WWII, the systematic dessimation of the aboriginal people in Australia, etc. THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF REAL RACISM, and you do a great disservice by comparing one person being aggravated by a couple of a-s-sholes from a predominately Black school to people who lost their lived because another group thought their skin color or religious background was the only one that should exist.

SweetSass

Racism because they can’t get their refund check at the registrar/finaid? Girl, please.

That is not racism. It’s bureaucratic inepitidude… and black students are also likely to suffer alongside that white student who got shifted around too… sooo????

Now if they had that white student stand up in some random psych class and give the White perspective on every issue… that might be borderline… but still… no. Because white people choosing to go to an HBCU are acknowledging they are entering a unique position. But black people at ‘mainstream’ universities don’t get that same warning… it comes as a shock.

Sigma_Since 93

No the white students still have the power. The HBCU’s have to be on their best behavior in how they treat white students to keep from getting called to the carpet. Back when I was in school the white students at an HBCU were getting the minority scholarships although they made up the majority of the student population 51% vs 49%. The administration skewed the numbers by saying the scholarships were based on the dorm campus population and not the day student and campus annex population.

Sweet GA Brown

I really believe that this is just an HBCU admissions and financial aid office problem. HBCUs tend to not have their ish together when it comes to processing ant students paperwork.

LMNOP

I am completely pulling this out of my @ss, and have never gone to a HBCU, but there do seem to be a lot of complaints about bureacracy/ financial aid. You get a lot of those in any college, obviously, but if they really are worse at most HBCUs, I would not be surprised if it’s because they are working with fewer resources as far as like endowments and all that than PWIs at the same academic level, which seems likely since white people have and historically have had more wealth to endow those schools with. That, of course, is a direct consequence of racism.

So following that ANY student at an HBCU experiencing more than their share of problems is experiencing a consequence of white supremacy racism, NOT black people being racist against them.

Rewind

Pretty much

WIP

I went to an HBSU and the stories were endless. I had a few registration mishaps, but otherwise I got all my checks on time and never had a financial issue.

nillalatte

Because I don’t have much time to ‘play’ today… please re-read Champ’s first paragraph and the first sentence of the second paragraph.
.
Yes, Blacks can be racist. You can promote your own race over that of others and think that Blacks can do certain things better than other races though your comments or ideology.
.
Racism, however, is systematic exclusion based on those preconceived ideas (my own interpretation/verbiage). Yes, Blacks can practice racism. Actually, anyone can. All they need to do is form groups of like minded individuals and act upon those ideas.

Rewind

No it’s still wrong. It’s just prejudice, and too many people confuse racism with prejudice. Racism is nothing more than a variation of prejudice based on power.

NO BLACK PERSON ON EARTH has as much power as the White majority. None whatsoever.

Kema

As I stated before racism is a subset of prejudices. Racism does not have anything to do with having power. Racism is a belief.

Rewind

Again, we’ll agree to disagree.
–
The way I was taught, racism is simply defined by a race in power being prejudiced against another race simply for being a different race without power.

Brian

Agreed! Racism isn’t about power, but instead a belief that one race is superior to another. And if that’s the case, anyone can be racist, including black people.

Brother Mouzone

A “belief” that you’re better has absolutely no effect on that race as a whole…no power, no effect.

Kema

Its not about whether the belief has an effect. Its the fact that having that belief is the definition of racism.

Brother Mouzone

Having that belief without the power to affect something makes you simply a bigot.

Ms. Bridget

Champ is not an authority on this subject.

Brother Mouzone

Chile please!

Brother Mouzone

For Nilla….

Brother Mouzone

You could argue that whites who attend HBCU’s get treated BETTER. My beloved FAMU had a white starting quarterback for god sakes..and he SUCKED!

That Ugly Kid

I do feel some kinda way that I’m first for the first time ever, and nobody ain’t bring out the confetti, no ice cream, no Shrimp Scampi, no Mountain Dew, no strippers, just…nothing.

yeah, i’ma have to side with Tuk on this one. Champ’s racial profiling may have led to some awkwardness, but it didn’t/couldn’t lead to incarceration, false arrests, death, and lack of employment opportunities the way racial profiling us does. that my friend, is the difference between prejudice and racism.

How would we know that? It has your name at the top and the bottom of the article.

Marshal

I see…. I stand corrected by the context that He who Posted it may Not be He who Wrote it

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

“Blacks canâ€™t indulge in the practice of racism. Thatâ€™s a fact. We donâ€™t have the power in this country to do so. However, Blacks can be PREJUDICED”

Can say this is a fact when the first 10 or so definitions that pop up when you google racism read something like this:

“a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”

This “fact” is a theory, an opinion held by some

niksmit

Because we all know Google and the internetz are the holders of all facts . . .
What TUK laid out for you is the academic definition of racism and you are responding with the common definition. That’s faulty as hell because you started off talking about *educated* people, so of course they’re referring to the academic definition.

In my opinion, the academic definition needs to replace the common definition. The latter leads to a lot of misunderstandings and frustration. Academics are supposed to be thought leaders to so get on board their train. Language is dynamic.

You’re not wrong about everyone having the ability to be prejudiced and bigoted, you just need to clean up your semantics for clarity.

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

“In my opinion, the academic definition needs to replace the common definition.”

that’s exactly my point. it is your opinion, not a fact. and, not every academic agrees with the “academic” definition of racism

T.Q. Fuego

The google definition is also a theory. It’s the opinion of whoever wrote it.

Rewind

Honestly, it doesn’t really matter what you call it, it’s still prejudice.

Racism is just being prejudiced against another race simple because one group is more powerful than the other.
–
It doesn’t matter what we call it, we all know what the problem is, that’s all that matters.

Brother Mouzone

Thank you TUK! I think a lot of people confuse these two things and don’t understand the difference(especially 2520’s)

Mr. Marc.J.H.

Plus 1 times a billion

Hmm

I don’t agree with Nilla’s example, but I bet there are places in the world where Black people can be racist. Perhaps not against White people, but against others, surely. Yes, in most places people with darker skin are deprived of power relative to those of lighter skin, but certainly Black people in positions of power could be racist against other Black people whom they perceive as being a different “race,” (an example might be Shona treatment of Ndebele in Zimbabwe) or against other People of Color. Was The Champ racist against the guy he assumed was a deliveryman? I’m not sure I know enough about the relative power dynamics to judge. But I think there’s a reasonable chance it could have been racist.

lyric

who told u tht?I’m not going to hate becuz I’m going to assume these r generational ideals tht u probably learned from your parents just like racist whites.whn u encounter racism it’s the same bad feeling u get down in your gut no matter what color u r.the same pain tht a person dislikes u solely on your color & there’s nothing u can do about it;I personally think it’s a form of evil.I hope for your own sake tht u don’t go down this extremist path becuz honestly it will hold u back in life (black people don’t have any power.how will u be successful thinking in this way.).just my advice for wht it’s worth;try to open your mind
signed white girl

lyric

this comment was for tht ugly kid first comment

Veronica Tuesday

Well written TUK. I wish more ppl knew how to distinguish between the two.

Kema

Racism – 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others. 2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. 3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

I think its more about people not knowing what racism means.

That Ugly Kid

Kema. You just posted it yourself. Read definitions 1 and 2 again. Look at how they coorelate to each other. Now look at the situation in America. Definition 3 is actually an inaccurate description, most likely added to try and cast the people of power as potential victims.
– Racism at it’s original definiton, is the belief of racial superiority AND the power to implement a system which reflects that notion. Blacks in this country, lack that power.

Fiveisthenumber

+5

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

“Read definitions 1 and 2 again. Look at how they coorelate to each other. Now look at the situation in America. Definition 3 is actually an inaccurate description, most likely added to try and cast the people of power as potential victims.”

So basically the definition you disagree with is the wrong one?

Kema

Exactly! I dont understand. When we cant rely on the dictionary then I dont even understand how to proceed.

Plus the first definition states…

“a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that oneâ€™s own race is superior and has the right to rule others. ”

It does not say that you have to actually rule others. It says you have to feel superior and BELIEVE you have the right to rule others. That sounds like a lot of 5 percenters if you ask IMO.

Rewind

Pick up any psychology book for a college course based on human behavior, and everything TUK said is in there. The dictionary won’t help in this regard.

But we will all agree to disagree on this one.

T.Q. Fuego

The whole point is that language is dynamic and the concept of actual racism is getting watered down and politically correct just to be all inclusive (very similar to Champ’s post about the word “beautiful”) People throw the word around way too much (black people too) and now it doesn’t really mean sh*t (Really black people, the Burger King commercial with Mary J. Blidge was “racist”? Have three seats). Like your example from the post. “I assumed an Asian guy in a black neighborhood was a pizza boy. haha, look at me being racist in a post-racial society” No, you just stereotyped him based on his race and clothing. I’d say the same if a white guy did it to you. (even though the connotation would be different) Racism is engrained in the fabric of a society (and its policies), not an individual choice (even for a white person who says the n-word I’d maintain that stance. ) I do get you guys’ point though. It seems like black folks are trying to change the whole language and make themselves and what they go through more special than everybody else, but honestly what kinda sense does it make to describe everyday prejudice and innocuous stereotypes with actual systematic biases and policies that effect one race negatively and another one favorably with the same word? It waters down the latter by making it sound equal to the former. Basically it allows for people who go through everyday stereotypes to say “me too” about sh*t they will never have to go through, thus trivializing and failing to really grasp what the oppressed group is going through. I’d never cry sexism (unless I was just joking) I’d just call bias, discrimination, prejudice, or misandry. See how that works?

Kema

“It waters down the latter by making it sound equal to the former. Basically it allows for people who go through everyday stereotypes to say â€œme tooâ€ about sh*t they will never have to go through, thus trivializing and failing to really grasp what the oppressed group is going through.
”
Did this not happen during the rape discussion? It just kills me that the men here that say blacks cant be racist are unable to look at this in an objective manner but expect women to do so when we are discussing gender issues. Yes racism by whites had had a much more significant impact on the world. That does not mean that racism on a smaller scale is not racism. You can even be racist against your own race.

That Ugly Kid

Seeing as how the defining characteristic of racism is power, then no, Blacks in THIS country (notice how I ONLY refer to America when say this) can’t be racist. Prejudiced as f*ck? Yep. But since historically, since racism was always reliant on a dominant power, by that definition, we can’t be racist. Can we stereotype, profile, and be prejudiced. Absolutely.

KENYADIGIT

I live in PG county MD (pray for me) the majority of the population is black, 99% of the county executives are black. Does this not place them in a position of power? How can the hill billy in a pickup be more racist than a county executive if all one needs to be racist is power?

That Ugly Kid

Easy. That county is still located in America. Those Black executives don’t have power. They do any bullsh*t, and the government will be up their azzes. The hillbilly in the pick-up however, belongs to the demographic that’s truly in power in this country (Whites).

T.Q. Fuego

“Did this not happen during the rape discussion?”

I came back and admitted that I shouldn’t have played the “men too” card on that issue. Rape disproportionately affects women and inmates, therefor talking about male rape was as irrelevant as talking about people thinking “racist” thoughts or committing small scale acts of discrimination

That Ugly Kid

No, I disagree with the 3rd definition because it actually IS wrong. The origins of racism have to do with belief of racial superiority and power to implement this belief. That’s it. Nothing more. Then other definitions over the years surface in its attempt to water down the term. The 3rd definition she posted is an attempt to include prejudice. Which, without power, can’t be defined as racism.

Kema

Well if racism is contingent on power then majority of the US can not be racist. Ok TUK lets say power is necessary… You are a manager about to hire someone. You decide not to hire a Mexican man because you decide he will ___insert stereotype___. Are you not being racist?

That Ugly Kid

If I was in that position and no one was above me and couldn’t overrule anything? Yes. I’d be racist because I’d have the dominant power. Now. Let’s say, I’m a manager, and the CEO says I have the power to hire whomever I want. So I do. But then the CEO doesn’t like who I hired, fires them all, and hires who he wants. If my actions and decisions, as manager, can be overruled and made irrelevant as if I did nothing at all, did I really have power to begin with? No. This more closely relates to the situations of Blacks in America. Sure, we can be millionaires, own businesses, etc, but our “power” is still dictacted by what someone else says we have. Meaning, we have no real power.

WIP

So if you were the owner, a sole proprietor, you could be racist in that scenario. No one can decide they didn’t like your decision except the person who didn’t get hired.
This conclusion that we have “no real power” bugs me though. I’m sure you could continue to name many situations in which someone’s “power” could be destabilized.

Kema

Exactly!!! If it were a white man in that same situation he would just stamp it as racist and move on.

Kema

“Yes. Iâ€™d be racist because Iâ€™d have the dominant power.”

I’m talking about the Mexican man. It doesnt matter what happens after you dismiss him because of his race. That WAS the racist act. My point is not about how much power blacks have to be racist but the fact that they can be racist.

That Ugly Kid

And the point I’m making is that we have no power. Ergo, we can’t be racist.

Kema

In that situation you had the power to deny this man employment. You were being racist. Blacks do not have power collectively but individually there are blacks with power. So as a group we cant be racist but as an individual (in my example) your racist a$$ denied this man a job.

That Ugly Kid

@Kema: In your scenario, since I was the dominant power, and no one could overrule me, yes, I’d be racist. But America doesn’t work like that. It works more closely to my scenario, that of the manager and CEO. The manager’s power is but an extension of the CEO’s power. Meaning the manager’s “power” isn’t his, but the CEO’s. So any situation you can think of where Blacks are the majority and appear to have “control”, follow this same logic. That “power” we have isn’t ours. But an extension of the people who really possess it, in this case, Whites.

Jason LA Sloan

I stopped paying attention a while ago but give me a day. I’m racist enough to come up with something tomorrow

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

cool. racism is fun

Keisha Brown

This post almost made me wake the baby. There woulda been hell to pay I tells ya.

I wish people would learn the difference between racism and discrimination, prejudices and stereotypes.

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

“I wish people would learn the difference between racism and discrimination, prejudices and stereotypes”

teach us and shit

Kema

Racism is actually a subset of prejudices. Racism is defined as racial prejudice or discrimination

T.Q. Fuego

Defined by who? And just why should we all take their word for it? Where did they study race relations at? Do they have a PhD in the subject or what?

Prejudice is the foundation, racism is the house. Black folks ain’t got the materials to actually build the house, even if a lot of us want to lol

Kema

You know what? If we cant use the dictionary’s definition then why does a PhD even matter? I’m coming at it from an objective point of view. Yes Blacks have not been able to utilize racism in the same way but racism As BM said I think many are confusing definition with application.

T.Q. Fuego

I’m just talking context. What does a definition matter if context is ignored. You do know that one word can have multiple definitions depending on the context right? That alone suggests that context matters most, no? Objectively speaking of course

Kema

lol! I’ve been arguing this all morning. I guess I look at this in a logical manner. In order to disprove a logical statement (blacks can not be racist) you only need one example in which it is false. Ive given examples. *throws up hands* I think you are letting your feelings about racism provide the context. Look at the word objectively. Remove white people and your views on history from the equation. What is your definition?

T.Q. Fuego

” I think you are letting your feelings about racism provide the context. ”

No sweetheart. I’m letting the context of real life define my context, not a semantic battle of wits lol. I’m not even mad, you still my homie. I’m just annoyed because the debate has been going on all morning but isn’t accomplishing anything. I honestly think you’re arguing for the sake of arguing. The battle is more about semantics, which we’ve concluded that we just don’t agree about…but to answer your question, my definition is “The systematic exclusion or oppression of one race based on racial prejudice,r ideology, or perceived inferiority.” Notice how prejudice is just a pre-requisite to racism, not an equivalent….objectively

Kema

I dont argue for the sake of arguing. Anywho… Yes the argument is about semantics but even in your definition I can see how a black person / group could be racist. The fact that it includes ‘exclusion based on racial prejudice’. Can you seriously not see a situation in which this could occur? But I will drop it. Dont want to ‘annoy’ you.

T.Q. Fuego

Lol, I see how you left out “systematic” but yeah I’m fatigued at this point

Rewind

I’ll give you a good one to prove a point.
–
There are Koreans and Brazilian people living in Japan. They are a small minority but the Japanese government has made it EXTREMELY hard for them to live comfortably, and the citizens do not like the idea of those minorities becoming citizens at all, so they do all they can to cause discomfort, like bars that restrict what kinds of people can come in, restrictions on owning businesses and land, the amount of pay people earn, etc.
–
THAT IS RACISM. Because the Japanese are in power and are actively using that power against these minorities for simply not being Japanese. Prejudice by itself is the Chinese not liking the Koreans in Japan even though they are in the same boat, because they have no power and don’t control anything, it is just their feelings. Black people are the same. We might be disrespectful, rude, violent, etc to White America but we do still won’t shift the balance of power in our favor.

Kaname

That is a great example! That superiority complex coupled with imperialism always spells disaster for anyone unlucky enough to be cast as the Other.

H.H.H.

i get what you’re saying, in terms of racism being a subset of prejudicies. i know what the definition of racism entails, thanks to you Miss Kema, but i guess i’m one of the hardheaded ones that believes that the application of power to negative prejudicies is what gives us racism. i think there is a clear difference when you have a regular white guy with negative prejudices, and a white guy, who is a cop, who cannot do his job properly because his negative prejudices are a part of his mental.

i think a lot of people in the united states, including black males and black females, are prejudiced, but by and large, blacks as a group, don’t pull off the amount of racist incidents/ commit the same kinds of institutional racism practices…that the majority ethnic group prepetrates. But i do feel that in terms of hiring/firing practices, if you don’t hire someone due to the colour of their skin, that is racism/racial discrimination.

nillalatte

I’m gonna have to think about the ‘most’ racist thing I’ve ever done, but most of y’all who were here a year or so ago will recall the time I called out my ex in a racial slur. I’d still do that today. In fact, we had a hearing today and I could have called that a-rab a few more choice words. Was that just a racist comment? I think it was. Sue me.
.
Funny story tho. My friend/guy called me one night at 11:30p. He said someone was outside knocking on his door and he didn’t know who it was. I was like, “Well, open the door. duh.” He was apparently a bit scared. He asked me if I would cruise by his house and tell him who was outside. I was like, “Have you lost your mind?!” But, I crawl out the bed and get in my cop car and head over to his neighborhood (we only lived 3 streets a part). I’m like, okay, I must be crazy. I call him and report his neighbors are moving and they are outside. Long story short, his neighbors were the ones knocking on his door.
.
I pull in the drive and we’re talking then this ninja gonna pull out his hardware and say he has a clip in other pocket. I was like, “Wait a minute. You are a man with a piece and you calling me to get my arse out the bed to act like I’m a cop on a drive by?” He said, “I’m Asian girl. You white driving a cop car people gonna get scared because they gonna think this hillbilly is crazy. Me, I open the garage and somebody is gonna ask me to do their taxes!” LOL
.
We’re always making fun of racist/stereotypes. He got in my car one day and asked if I had had the dogs in my car. I said, “No. Why?” He said it smelled like wet dog in my car. I remembered PJ’s post and said, “Boy, that is white people wet dog.” :D He started smelling on me and said, “okay, that’s white people smell. That’s not it.” lol
.
I could tell these stories a.l.l. day long. :D

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

asian men with guns, white women with cop cars. was this a deleted scene from “kill bill”?

nillalatte

I know, right? We foolish.

Royale W. Cheese

I’m not sure who hijacked the word racism and made it equivalent to oppression and white supremacy. Maybe my college Black Psychology professor had some role in it. Afrocentric folks have a thing for hijacking language and making ish up. I know because I used to be on that militant Kool-aid. Yes, black people can be racist.
~~~
The most racist thing I did? I said that I wasn’t surprised that the Chinese lied about the ages of their gymnasts because the Chinese government is shady. I think shadiness is a Chinese stereotype.

That Ugly Kid

No one hijacked the word. The word has pretty much always included oppresion in practice. Because the best way to “prove” that your race is superior, is to abuse your power and target a specific people not in your race.
– I think the white supremacy aspect of racism is only used by people of this country. Because it pertains to our specific situation (whites and native americans, whites and slavery, whites and segregation/civil rights). Technically, although racism can be practiced by any race, it’s regionally (and historically) specific. So, in THIS region (America) Blacks can’t practice racism. Elsewhere though, is a different story.

iRox416

“-I think the white supremacy aspect of racism is only used by people of this country”
TUK, White supremacist aspects of racism can be found in any country or region with a significant white population including Europe, Australia, Canada, South Africa, South America…etc. Ask any early West Indian immigrants that settled in England or Canada in the ’50s to ’70s then compare their stories to recent African immigrants, not much has changed.

Iceprincess2

@ RWC If they will lie about how much their money is worth on the global market, they will damn sure lie bout age. *looks around* where’s jay when u need him? Or TQ fuego? One of our resident China experts.

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

“I think shadiness is a Chinese stereotype.”

maybe because there’s so many of them they don’t think people will notice? (was that racist?)

SweetSass

Yeah, just about every country has enough shadiness going on that Chinese don’t have a lock on it.

We still run Guantanamo. That is shady as hell. Go watch Zero Dark Thirty and tell me America isn’t shady as hell.

Asiyah

Whenever I make comments like yours, I am called “anti-American.” I love this country but I’m sorry that I’m not so blinded with love that I think it’s the best place on Earth.

T.Q. Fuego

+1 @ SweetSass and Asiyah. With China it’s the government AND the individuals that seem shady. With the U.S. it’s mainly just the government

SweetSass

Meh, I’ve met a bunch of shady black, brown, and white folks.

Shadiness, I’m willing to go on record… is a universal trait.

Except for dogs. Ain’t no shady dogs.

Asiyah

I cosign you on that Sassy!

T.Q. Fuego

Meanwhile if a cat’s NOT shady I get suspicious

http://verysmartbrothas.com The Champ

i guess you forgot about all those snitch-ass dogs they used to sic on us during civil rights’ protests

SweetSass

It’s not a dog’s nature to be shady… they had to brainwash those dogs to be bad.

T.Q. Fuego

Lmao @”snitch @ss dogs.” I mean, but that wasn’t shadiness though. They were just doin their jobs. Just cause your black @ss is unemployed don’t mean the dog is lol

Royale W. Cheese

By “shady” I mean character-wise. Secretive, sneaky, fraudulent, not trustworthy, “yellow menace” and all that. The same stereotype that makes it seem as if nothing genuine or high-quality ever comes out of China. Keep in mind that a stereotype is still a stereotype even if it is supported by real acts.

*fixed* White people being racist = people getting killed and aforementioned white person being acquitted

LMNOP

yeah, I think you can’t ignore that everything happens in the context of society-level racism. And if a white person does something racist, even something horrific like killing a child, they have white supremacy on their side.

Kema

Yes, I agree white people being racist has led to more harm than black people being racist.

Tristan

pretty much…at best we laugh at other people, meanwhile we getting shot, beat up, profiled and locked up…its clear who really gets the last laugh

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

“pretty muchâ€¦at best we laugh at other people”

yea, i can’t agree with this one here. there are dozens—hundreds, even—of documented instances of Black people specifically targeting White people to rob, jump, rape, and even murder them. I’m not putting Black racism and White racism on the same scale, but we can’t pretend that shit like that doesn’t happen.

T.Q. Fuego

Champ? Are you serious??? Who do black people target the most? I’ll answer that one for you, other black people. I’m not saying there’s never been a hate crime committed by a black person against a white person, but where I come from if a black person robs a white person it ain’t because he hates white people, it’s because chances of that person actually having money are higher. That’s a “business decision” based on a stereotype, not a hate crime sheesh

LMNOP

In most crimes the victim and the perpetrator are the same race.
I think it is more of an opportunity thing.

Iceprincess2

TRUTH. I’ve robbed countless white ppl in my life, only a handful of blacks. It just shakes out that way. If u have what I want, I’m giving you the bizness. Nobody is safe.

There’s no doubt in my mind that if that was a middle aged Black guy, that kid wouldnt have sucked punched him like that. Not saying this type of stuff doesn’t also happen to Black people, but, again, we can’t pretend that there aren’t instances where certain things happen because the victim was White

Todd

Context matters though. If you’re a White guy trying to get a hip-hop record deal or that starting running back job in the league, racism means not eating. This isn’t to say that it’s as bad as we get, but let’s not pretend that even the other way is mediocre at best.

Medium Meech

Damn white coaches and record label owners just refuse to let the entire supply chain be completely white in certain isolated instances. Reverse racism is real yo. Or is that reverse self racism?

In all seriousness though, you have to be able to come up with better examples than that. Let’s table the fact that in your examples that systemically “white people” as a collective don’t lose if this discrimination actually occurs, they only gain incrementally slightly less (The benefactors are still overwhelmingly white. The athletes are just highly visible, very temporary conduits of money moving from one faction, with little to no minority representation, to the next).

Professional sports is probably the most egalitarian profession in the world in terms of player evaluation and a white person in hip hop is just as (probably more) likely to get signed because of their race than rejected.

They have literally manufactured white hip hop artist solely on the basis of their race and it’s appeal to the mass consumer market. And it’s usually a black person trying to sign them because they thoroughly understand the market appeal.

Context does matter when looking at race, and the torture you have to put your analogy through to make an incongruent argument does more to disprove your point than help it.

Todd

So you’re one of those people who think White people have it all gravy. Yes, White people have more opportunities than Black people. Few (at least on this site) would deny that point. But right now, you’re sounding like one of those conspiracy types who swear that every White person lives in comfort save for those who have actively tried to wreck their lives…and even they have access to the secret Illuminati intranet where they can request manager jobs at Applebee’s. ;)

Iceprincess2

You should kno, Todd, being that you’re white ;-)

Medium Meech

Na kid, I didn’t say anybody had it easier. White people got issues, black people got issues. Even rich people don’t have it as easy as people assume. Systematic discrimination based on race just isn’t a problem white people in America really have to deal with. Me pointing that out using the fallacy of your own argument isn’t playing the victim or or portraying white people as villains, it’s just me pointing out you intellectually lazy argument.

I’m not really sure what perception of black people’s views on race you’re arguing against, but it isn’t mine. Maybe your original response was an out of context response to the that preconceived notion. I was simply responding to facts you laid out, it doesn’t look like you gave me the same courtesy, you just assigned me a motive and attacked it instead of my argument.

T.Q. Fuego

” I was simply responding to facts you laid out, it doesnâ€™t look like you gave me the same courtesy, you just assigned me a motive and attacked it instead of my argument.”

Yep. I was disappointed that he did that. He’s usually better at making his case than that.

And for the record the white running back angle was a really bad one to take. Peyton Hillis fell all the way off and Toby Gerhart just got drafted to the wrong team. Ain’t nobody starting at RB if they’re on the same roster as Adrian Peterson. Just ain’t happening.

SweetSass

I present to you…

Kreashawn.

Proof you don’t have to work hard, be talented, or worthwhile to make it as a white rapper.

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

lol, for every kreashawn I can name like 20 chief keefs

Medium Meech

Please don’t.

Mr SoBo

Off topic: Meech you on twitter?

On topic: Anyway, I had to google Kreashawn. Never heard of this person until today. Watched 3 seconds of the vid, and closed the window.*deep resounding sigh*

What pisses me off about white men & black women (who are free to date & eff whomever without stigma or any real negative backlash) is that they live a very privileged lifestyle (for white men, it is preferential treatment for being white & male which opens up unlimited possibilities, for black women, it is governmental & corporate jobs/benefits) & then they play dumb like

“Well black men why can’t you just pull yourself together?”

As if we get the same assistance as you in the grand scheme of things in America.

And for the people who itch to point out inconsistencies in what men say on this blog, please quote negroes, because I love how itches exercise their selective memory & but then don’t use basic citation swag.

Mamba Out. SSTTE.

Adonis

And yes I am prejudiced like a mothafcuka.

White & Asian men are soft.
Black men are egostical & swagnificent.
White women are privileged & oblivious to the world around them.
Black women need to slapped in the mouth every now & then.

I wish I had more time to go in, but I need to snore for a few hours.

Sandpaper

Slapped in the mouth? Its2013dammit! That Sean Connery swag might not be a good idea.

Ray Lewis is not a murderer. He was charged with murder in an attempt to get him to roll over on the people that he knew who were responsible for the killings. The DA who charged him admitted this in the press. No one cares BECAUSE HE DIDN’T KILL ANYBODY, and because people have a hard time getting worked up over someone protecting their friends. A lot of people might commit that crime, yourself included, when you consider the way that you talk about valuing your friendships.

Lewis was convicted of obstruction of justice, basically because he didn’t roll over, and he got a year of probation.

You dilute your point with this statement. Stick to basketball.

k-steez

yeah. that was a sore spot for me too. this wasn’t an oj case. there was no gray area or confusion. they didn’t have any evidence against him because he didn’t do it.

Iceprincess2

F*ck ray Lewis. They tore down the whole party district in buckhead cuz of that mess. Now folks gotta go to at least midtown to party smh

Marshal

Devil’s Advocate- would Lil Kim get the same Ray Lewis status, even though Cease and Co. admitted/threw her under the bus???

Sweet GA Brown

YOu have a point.

http://verysmartbrothas.com Damon Young

yeah, you’re right. i’m too hard on him. most guys would do nothing to stop their friends from stabbing two people to death, and I’d definitely help them get rid of their blood-stained clothes

Negro Libre

Racism, is an emotionally charged word today. Like the word materialism, people are more familiar with the emotions attached to the word rather than the simple definition (materialism simply means that one believes that the world is made of “matter” only. Most people today when they hear the word “materialism” imagine someone who is obsessed with worldly riches and the excessive accumulation of goods.

Racism simply means to discriminate someone based on race, just as sexism is to discriminate base on sex, and ageism is discrimination based on age. It’s been redefined, turned into a non-objective term, and been turned into a utilitarian term so people can use it to shut other people up and as propaganda to take advantage of people who don’t think critically. Outside of the emotional attachment to the word, people who are discriminatory or prejudice are as immoral as people who are racist. Like the late great comedian George Carlin said about Americans and words: we love to use words to evade and corrupt reality.

Kema

“Racism, is an emotionally charged word today” &Racism simply means to discriminate someone based on race, just as sexism is to discriminate base on sex

I love that you say this. Does anyone ever say that a womam cant be sexist? I really dont understand this logic that blacks can’t be racist.

Negro Libre

A lot of people do say women can’t be sexist, it’s why the term misandry gets underlined when you type it on most word processors. The problem is people look at these words through the lens of politics, rather than through the lens of reality. They mix up definitions with applications, in other words a lot of fallacious logic is used by people in defining these terms.

Kema

“They mix up definitions with applications”

This is exactly what I’m thinking. I would agree that whites have applied racism on a much higher scale than other races. But that doesnt mean others cant be racist.

Negro Libre

Exactly! It’s like saying a gun is defined as a weapon used to kill people, rather than saying a gun is a weapon that shoots out bullets at a very high velocity.

T.Q. Fuego

U can’t ignore its capacity to kill people though. That’s kind of an important side note lol

T.Q. Fuego

A valid argument Negro Libre. I don’t agree, but what you’re saying is practical. The reason the word is “hi-jacked” is because people want to differentiate between the dogma of individuals and the inherent dogma of systems where one group is the overwhelming majority. One leads to the other but the two aren’t the same. A white person can DEFINITELY experience discrimination on an individual level, but when the lawmakers and law enforcers hold negative prejudice against certain races and either positive prejudice or neutrality towards others then that imbalance and systematic bias needs a word to itself for the sake of clarity. It’s not about politics or evading reality, it’s about accuracy and precision. If anything it’s going into more detail about reality.

Negro Libre

There’s an accurate word for what you’re talking about, it’s called “institutional racism.” That word is specific, accurate, straight to the point and takes into consideration everything you just said, also it doesn’t open itself up to subjective interpretation and endless intellectual debate that leads nowhere. However, the word racism is discrimination because of race, that’s the definition, that’s the reality of it. It’s not about being practical, it’s about being objective.

T.Q. Fuego

Good point. I can rock witih institutional racism. Even still, I’m just as annoyed with people tossing around the word “racist”as I am with people sayin sh*t like “working like a slave”. Even still though, people overuse the word “racism” based on the definition you just gave. Take Champ’s post for example. He didn’t discriminate he just made an incorrect assumption based on race. Situations like that make up most of the scenarios where Americans toss around the term “racist” and I really do think that waters de-sensitizes people from the concept of true institutional racism. I feel you though. Discrimination is discrimination no matter who does it

T.Q. Fuego

*remove the word waters from that post. I was typing “wateres down” and thought I erased it smh

Kema

“He didnâ€™t discriminate he just made an incorrect assumption based on race” No, he didnt discriminate but he was racist. Discrimination would have been an application of racism or racism in action.

T.Q. Fuego

You’re contradicting what Negro Libre just said tho…I still disagree that what Champ did was racist. I have no issue agreeing to disagree though. It’s not that serious to me either way.

Kema

I did note what he said about racism being discrimination because of race. He was wrong. However, I have not contradicted any of my earlier statements. Hey you saw what I wrote on your blog. I like debating! I dont get in my feelings. lol!

Negro Libre

What is wrong about that definition?

T.Q. Fuego

Lmao @ “he was wrong”
I actually agree with his definition and disagree with yours. (sticks tongue out and kema then turns around and moons her) lol

Kema

I take that back. He is right. I was wrong. Discrimination: the process by which two stimuli differing in some aspect are responded to differently. So yes racial discrimination is racism as he stated.